Document Type

Report

College

College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

Department

Occupational Therapy

Degree

Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD)

Report Date

5-2026

Faculty Mentor

Gross, Kimberly

Doctoral Experiential Coordinator

Latour, Debra

Abstract

Motherhood involves a significant occupational transition that often results in changes to biomechanics and increased risk for musculoskeletal conditions. However, prenatal and postpartum education frequently prioritizes infant care with limited emphasis on maternal ergonomics and injury prevention. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of an occupational therapy-led telehealth educational intervention focused on postpartum ergonomics, musculoskeletal risk, and self-management strategies for new mothers. A qualitative naturalistic design informed by grounded theory methodology was used, with pre–post descriptive quantitative measures. Eight mothers of children ages 0-5 years participated in a single 90-minute occupational therapy-led educational session delivered either synchronously via telehealth or asynchronously. Pre- and post-intervention Likert-scale surveys assessed self-perceived knowledge across multiple domains, and open-ended responses were collected to explore participant experiences. Participants demonstrated increases in self-perceived knowledge across all domains following the intervention, with the largest gains in devices and tools, prevention strategies, and self-treatment methods. Qualitative findings identified a consistent lack of prior maternal-focused ergonomic education and limited instruction on safe caregiving practices. Occupational therapy-led telehealth education may improve maternal awareness of ergonomic and musculoskeletal health during early motherhood. Findings highlight a gap in current perinatal education and support further development of occupational therapy-based preventative interventions.

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Available for download on Thursday, January 17, 2526

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